Красная комната

           Thelong,draftysubterraneanpassagewaschillyanddusty,andmycandleflaredandmadetheshadowscowerandquiver. Theechoesrangupanddownthespiralstaircase,andashadowcamesweepingupafterme,andanotherfledbeforemeintothedarknessoverhead. IcametothewidelandingandstoppedthereforamomentlisteningtoarustlingthatIfanciedIheardcreepingbehindme,andthen,satisfiedoftheabsolutesilence,pushedopentheunwillingbaize-covereddoorandstoodinthesilentcorridor. 

           TheeffectwasscarcelywhatIexpected,forthemoonlight,cominginbythegreatwindowonthegrandstaircase,pickedouteverythinginvividblackshadoworreticulatedsilveryillumination. Everythingseemedinitsproperposition;thehousemighthavebeendesertedontheyesterdayinsteadoftwelvemonthsago. Therewerecandlesinthesocketsofthesconces,andwhateverdusthadgatheredonthecarpetsoruponthepolishedflooringwasdistributedsoevenlyastobeinvisibleinmycandlelight. Awaitingstillnesswasovereverything.Iwasabouttoadvance,andstoppedabruptly. Abronzegroupstooduponthelandinghiddenfrommebyacornerofthewall;butitsshadowfellwithmarvelousdistinctnessuponthewhitepaneling,andgavemetheimpressionofsomeonecrouchingtowaylayme.Thethingjumpeduponmyattentionsuddenly. Istoodrigidforhalfamoment,perhaps. Then,withmyhandinthepocketthatheldtherevolver,Iadvanced,onlytodiscoveraGanymedeandEagle,glisteninginthemoonlight.